The Progress of Andy Murray
Cast your minds back to 2004, a promising British youngster by the name of Andy Murray matched up against the experience of 45-year-old John McEnroe in a London exhibition match. In the contest Murray was overawed and outplayed in a set lasting just 17 minutes. Billed before the match as Britain’s next big hope, Murray wilted under the pressure of playing a tennis great.
An examination of Murray’s game at the time emphasises the astonishing progression he has made in a little over two years. Murray lacked a penetrating first serve and missed out on the free points that go together with a powerful serve. His court movement was too slow and his ground-strokes weren’t crisp or sure. His tennis brain was in the developing stages and he looked every bit the inexperienced junior.
Fast-forward to the early stages of 2007 and the determined 19-year-old has slid comfortably into the shoes of Britain’s best. An evaluation of his tennis game today makes for far better reading. He has a precise and more powerful first serve, crisp and penetrating ground-strokes, great anticipation, vastly improved court-speed and a fearsome return of serve.
This combines well with a rapidly developing tennis brain and the confidence that goes along with defeating numerous top-10 opponents and successfully defending his San Jose title with a come from behind win against towering Croat Ivo Karlovic.
Roger Federer and Andy Roddick belong to a fast-growing list of Murray casualties, it is difficult to believe Murray is still yet to leave his teens. Defending his ranking points last week he consolidated his 13 world ranking and after a lean patch during the corresponding tournaments last year seems set to burst into the top-10 in the coming weeks.
Under the experienced tutelage of American coach Brad Gilbert, Murray has excelled and as exchanges the hard-court shoes in favour for the clay court variety he will need to maintain his form, as he quickly become one of the men to beat on the men’s tour. Murray must now consider himself a genuine chance in every tournament he competes and his opponents can consider him a notable scalp.
Looking further ahead to Wimbledon and the inevitable period where the British tennis public pin their hopes on a local hope, it only remains to be seen whether Murray can maintain a level-head and continue to take each day as it comes.
Along with his growing stature in tennis comes the growing pressure to continue to perform. Hopefully Britain will allow Murray time to improve further, just think where he could be in another couple of years.
An examination of Murray’s game at the time emphasises the astonishing progression he has made in a little over two years. Murray lacked a penetrating first serve and missed out on the free points that go together with a powerful serve. His court movement was too slow and his ground-strokes weren’t crisp or sure. His tennis brain was in the developing stages and he looked every bit the inexperienced junior.
Fast-forward to the early stages of 2007 and the determined 19-year-old has slid comfortably into the shoes of Britain’s best. An evaluation of his tennis game today makes for far better reading. He has a precise and more powerful first serve, crisp and penetrating ground-strokes, great anticipation, vastly improved court-speed and a fearsome return of serve.
This combines well with a rapidly developing tennis brain and the confidence that goes along with defeating numerous top-10 opponents and successfully defending his San Jose title with a come from behind win against towering Croat Ivo Karlovic.
Roger Federer and Andy Roddick belong to a fast-growing list of Murray casualties, it is difficult to believe Murray is still yet to leave his teens. Defending his ranking points last week he consolidated his 13 world ranking and after a lean patch during the corresponding tournaments last year seems set to burst into the top-10 in the coming weeks.
Under the experienced tutelage of American coach Brad Gilbert, Murray has excelled and as exchanges the hard-court shoes in favour for the clay court variety he will need to maintain his form, as he quickly become one of the men to beat on the men’s tour. Murray must now consider himself a genuine chance in every tournament he competes and his opponents can consider him a notable scalp.
Looking further ahead to Wimbledon and the inevitable period where the British tennis public pin their hopes on a local hope, it only remains to be seen whether Murray can maintain a level-head and continue to take each day as it comes.
Along with his growing stature in tennis comes the growing pressure to continue to perform. Hopefully Britain will allow Murray time to improve further, just think where he could be in another couple of years.
posted by Chris Walker at 3:35 AM
1 Comments:
Great insight to the tennis world. Lets hope Andy can remain in this form.
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